Remote control unit for gasoline and other engines



Feb. 28, B M BR DS ET AL 2,149,041

REMOTE CONTROL UNIT FOR GASOLINE AND OTHER ENGINES Filed April 15, 1958 Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED S TAT ES PATENT F FICE Basil M. Bradshaw and James M. Rowland, Sequoia National Park; Calif.

Applicatiiin'April 15, 1938; Serial'No'; 202:344

8' Claims.

This invention relates to a manual control for automatically controlled internal combustion engines. Where internal combustion engines are employed for operating dynamos to produce" current for use in electric welding a governor is used in combination with the engine for maintaining an effective maximum sp'e'edofthe' engine, or for a maximum number of revolutions per minute However, it is necessary to frequently stop the arc ii)" welding, but it is not always convenient for the operator to lay down his tools and'stop the engine or actuate controls ofthe engine which would reducethe speed in order to prevent" excessive wear on the engine or dynamo. in It' is an object ofth'e present invention to provide a manual control of an internal combustion engine which is used for driving. a dynamo whereby it is only necessary for the operator to move a button conveniently located or to operate a switch which will cause the engine to idle during those periods'where theoperator must eliminate the arc welding temporarily for various reasons. Another object of the invention is the provision of'a remote control for an internal combustion engine in which the operationof a switch conveniently located at the work maybe moved to either closed-or open position which will cause a magnetic means to operate a butterfly valve ofthe engine or other fuel control, whereby the engine willbe brought to an idling condition when it is necessary to stop work't'empo'ra'rily during a Weld ing process.

A further object of theinventiori is" the provision" of a remote control for an internal combustionen'gihewhichoperates a dynamo'to supply current for an a'r'c'welder' in which a switch may be conveniently placed where desired" so that the operator may actuate the switch" to either cause idling of the internal combustion engine, or tocau'se said engine to operate at a maximumsp'eed, said engine being under'thec'ontrol of a governor, said'switch controllingthe current to'amagnetic nieans'which causes a" rod to be moved for either closingor'o'pening a fuel-control ofthe engine so a that'the engine will operate either atitsmaximum governor-controlledspeed o'r at idling speed. AZstill further object-of the invention is the piovision o'f aj remote control unit-which is adapted to bemount'ed on an internal combustion en- 50 gine and operated by a switch'atthe' end'of a control cord, the switch being movable to a convenient position adjac'e'rit the work, or" to abench where th'ewi i'ark is'being don'e', the engine being adapted tbdflve' al'i elbtric' generator for supplying our;

5 rent for arc' weld-lng; the operation-ofth'e switch causing the unit' to control a fuel supply to the engineor to control'the usualbut'te'rfl'y valve for lowering the R; Pl Mls' of the engine to a speed where the engine will idle properly, said switch also when operated will causethe engine to' opcrate at itsmaximum governor-controlledspeed so that when the welder is cutting and fitting'the parts to be welded, or' when any other delay'occurs the speed of the engine can be reduced to' idling to prevent unnecessary wear'oriear on the 1b welding unit with a consequentsavin'g of gas and oil.

This invention will be best understood from a co'nsideratibn of the following detailed descrip tibn', in View of'the accompanying drawing form- 1'5 ing'a' part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is'not' confined to the disclosure; being'susceptible of such changes and modifications" a's define no material departure fro'm'the'salientfeatures'of the inven tion as expressedinthe appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is 'a' more" orie'ss diagrammatic showing of the 'unit forcontr'cning an internal combustion engine; withpa'rts" insection'.

Figul'reZis afrag'nientary'vertical section of stops applied" to a butterfly control rod' in connection with an armture.

Figure" 3 is a vertical section taken along the lines 33" of Figure'l.

Referring morep'articularly to'the drawing, ll] designates a housing or board upon which is mounted aniammeter'l I; a'switch' l2 and a'starter button l3 which'co'ntrols' a switch'to a starting motor'indicate'd diagrammatically at M;

A wire l5connects a terminal [60f the start in'g motor with'a battery H. A wire l8isc'onn'ected betweenthe bindingpost Hi'of the'starting motor and a bindingpost E9 of the ammeter II;

A" wire 2U'connects the binding'post lQ'of the ammeter with a binding post 2| of the switch l2; This switch is grounded in the usual'man'ner.

An extensioncord z ficontains two wires 26an'd ZT-and' the firs't'rnentioned wire is connected with abiriding-post 28, w'hilethe wire?! is connected with a binding post 29' carried by an insulating block 30; Aw'ire' 3i connects binding post 29 with-a binding post 32 ofthe ammeter H;

A switch generally indicated'by the numeral 35 has an operatingmember 36which' is' adapted to closeor'ope'n-the switch andthe wires'Z'G and 21 are connected with the switch35 bymeans ofthe extension'c'ord 25.

An electromagnet 36 is sup'portedb'y'a bracket 31 in ahousi'ng 38a'nd'this housingmay'be' at- 5B tached to the base of an internal combustion engine, or it may be connected by brackets in any suitable manner to the engine block. The position of the housing, however, will be such that it Will be conveniently located adjacent to the butterfly valve 39 which controls the flow of fuel to an internal combustion engine not shown.

An armature 56 is pivoted at ll on an end of the front arm 42 of the bracket or support 3? for the electromagnet 36. The member 40 extends upwardly in line with the core of the magnet 36 and projects through an opening 53 in the top of the housing 38. A guard i l connected to the arm 42 acts as a support for the armature, embraces the armature 4B and limitsthe movement of said armature toward the right in Figure 1 so that when current is passed through the magnet the armature will be oscillated toward the left in said Figure 1.

A Wire 45 from the coil of the magnet 35 is grounded at 46 on the support 31. A wire d? is attached to the binding post 28 and forms the positive connection with the coil 36.

An adjustably mounted bracket 55 is carried by an arm 5| which extends upwardly from the support 31. The bracket is provided with slots 52 which receive bolts 53 carried by the arm 5!.

When the nuts 54 are loosened the bracket 55 may be raised or lowered as desired. The tension of the bolts will secure the bracket in position.

A lever 55 is pivotally mounted at 56 on the horizontal extension 51 of the bracket 55}. An insulating block 58 is secured to the lower end of said lever which carries a switch point 59. This switch point is connected by means of a flexible cord 60 to a binding post 5| and this binding post is connected by means of the wire 62 with the binding post 16 of the starter Id.

A bracket 63 is secured to the extension 5'! of the bracket 50 and is insulated therefrom by means of the block 64. The lower end of the bracket 63 has an insulating block 65 secured thereto to which is attached the switch point 65. A wire 61 connects the positive wire il with the switch point 66. Thus it will be seen that when the switch point 59 is moved into contact with the switch point 66 a circuit is closed as will be presently explained.

A spring 'lll is connected between the bracket 63 and the upper end of the lever 55. An adjustable bolt ll carried by the bracket 56 is adapted to engage the block 58 and limit the movement of said block toward the left in Figure 1.

An arm 15 is rigidly secured at it to the upper end of the armature 45 and is provided with an extension 71 at its free end which carries an in sulating block or plate '18. This plate is adapted 'to engage the upper end of the lever 55 and rock the same as will be presently explained.

A throttle control rod is connected at 8i with a lever 82 which rocks a shaft 83 upon which the butterfly or throttle valve 35 is secured. A spring 84 is connected with the free end of the lever 82 and with an adjustable bolt 85. By adjusting the bolt 85 the tension of the spring can be increased or decreased as desired. The upper free end 40 of the armature 5D is provided with an opening 86 to receive one end of the rod 80 upon oppositie sides of stops 8'! and 88. These stops are rigidly secured to the rod 89 and are spaced upon opposite sides of the upper free end of the armature 4B.

The spring 10 is connected to an adjustable bolt 89 which is mounted in a nut 90 carried by an arm 9| secured to the U-shaped bracket 53.

Thus, it will be seen that the adjustment of the bolt 89 will increase or decrease the tension of the spring 15.

The governer, generally designated by the numeral is adapted to control the butterfly valve 39 in the usual manner for maintaining a predetermined speed of the internal combustion engine.

The operation of my device is as follows: It is assumed that the switch l2 has been moved to closed position so that the internal combustion engine is operating and the operator has been using the welder at a point remote from the internal combustion engine and the housing 38. At this time the extension cord 25 will permit the switch 35 to be moved to a position where the Welder is operating. When the welder desires to start the operation he will press the switch button 35 so that current will flow through the ammeter,

through wire 41 and negative grounded wire 45 and thus through the coil 36. The device is so constructed that approximately 7 amperes of current passes through the coil 36. This current partly magnetizes the iron core of the electromagnet and pulls the armature 40 toward the left in Figure 1 against the valve stop rod 88. As the armature 45 moves to the left in Figure 1 the fibre block 18 will cause the upper end of the lever 55 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow whereby the lower end will be moved in the opposite direction so that the point 59 will engage the point 66 and close the circuit through the wires til, 41 and 62. The D. C. current direct from the battery flashes through the coil of the electromagnet and fully magnetizes the iron core so that the armature 45 is moved further to the left in Figure 1 and. will pull the rod 8G to the left since the upper end w of the armature is pressing against the stop 88. When this happens the butterfly valve 39 is moved to the vertical position so that the engine will operate at full capacity. 7

However, the full angular movement of the armature 45 to the left in Figure 1 will cause the block 18 to slip over the upper end of the cam surface of the upper end of the lever 55 and the spring ill will return the lever 55 to its normal vertical position thereby breaking the circuit to the electromagnetafi by way of the wires 41 and 62 and leave the electromagnet partly magnetized with the seven ampere current through the control cord 25.

This, however, is suificient magnetism to hold the fulcrum rod in the closed position so that the throttle valve 39 will be maintained in its full open position and the engine will continue in its full governed operating speed.

In order to causethe engine to idle the switch button 36 is moved to its open position which breaks the circuit through the wires 26 and 21 to the coil 35. Therefore, the spring 84 will pull on the lever 82 and move the throttle valve 39 to the angular dotted line position in Figure 1 and thus cut down the amount of fuel passing to the engine. All of the parts are now in position as shown in Figure 1 for idling.

When it is desired to again start the engine to full speed, the switch button 36 is properly operated and the parts will then again assume the position as described above.

We claim: 7

1. A remote control for internal combustion engines including a fuel control valve, a battery and a generator comprising a magnet in circuit with the generator, a remotely located switch for controlling said circuit, an armature partially operated by the magnet when the generating circuit is closed, valve actuating means operated :by the armature to open the fuel valve, a second switch, a circuit including the second switch, magnet and battery, means connected with the armature for temporarily closing the last mentioned switch and circuit so that the magnet will fully operate the armature and cause the valve actuating means to open fully the fuel control valve.

2. A remote control for internal combustion engines including a fuel control valve, a battery and a generator comprising a magnet in circuit with the generator, a remotely located switch for controlling said circuit, an armature partially operated by the magnet when the generating circuit is closed, valve actuating means operated by the armature to open the fuel valve, a second switch, a circuit including the second switch, magnet and battery, means connected with the armature for temporarily closing the last mentioned switch and circuit so that the magnet will fully operate the armature and cause the valve actuating means to open fully the fuel control valve, means included in the last mentioned means for releasing the second switch to open position, the armature remaining in the fully operated position when the second switch is opened.

3. A remote control for internal combustion engines including a fuel valve, a battery and a generator comprising a magnet in circuit with the generator, a remotely located switch for controlling said circuit, a hinged armature, a fuel valve actuating means provided with a stop adapted to be engaged by the armature when the generator circuit is closed, a battery circuit including the magnet, a switch controlling the battery circuit and operated by the armature to closed position when said armature engages the stop whereby the armature will be moved to its limit of movement by energization by the battery circuit and the fuel control valve will likewise be moved to full open position, means for causing opening of the second switch when the armature is moved to its limit of movement, the armature being retained in its limit of movement by the current from the generator circuit.

4. A remote control for internal combustion engines including a fuel valve, a battery and a generator comprising a magnet in circuit with the generator, a remotely located switch for controlling said circuit, a hinged armature, a fuel valve actuating means provided with a stop adapted to be engaged by the armature when the generator circuit is closed, a battery circuit including the magnet, a switch in the battery circuit, oscillatable means operated by the armature and closing the second switch when the armature has engaged the stop whereby current from the battery will cause the magnet to move the armature to its limit of movement and also the operating means for the fuel control valve, While at the same time the oscillatable means will be released, means for returning the oscillatable means to operate the second switch to open the battery circuit.

5. A remote control for internal combustion engines including a fuel valve, a battery and a generator comprising a magnet in circuit with the generator, a remotely located switch for controlling said circuit, a hinged armature, a fuel valve actuating means provided with a stop adapted to be engaged by the armature when the generator circuit is closed, a battery circuit including the magnet, a switch controlling the battery circuit, a movable lever for closing the switch, resilient means for moving the lever to open the switch, an arm connected with the armature and adapted to oscillate the lever to close the switch when said armature engages the stop whereby the battery circuit will energize the magnet and move the armature to its limit of movement and cause the fuel valve to open when actuating means provided with a stop adapted to be engaged by the armature when the generator circuit is closed, a battery circuit including the magnet, a switch controlling the battery circuit, an oscillatable lever for closing the second switch, means projecting from the armature to engage a free end of the lever to close the switch, whereby the magnet will be energized by the battery circuit and the armature will be moved into engagement with the core of the magnet, said armature at this time operating the fuel valve actuating means and fully opening said fuel valve, the means projecting from the armature moving beyond the free end of the lever and releasing said lever, and resilient means for returning the lever to normal position and opening the second switch, the generator circuit at this time retaining the armature and likewise the fuel valve in their limits of movement.

'7. A remote control for internal combustion engines including a fuel valve, a battery and a generator comprising a magnet in circuit with the generator, a remotely located switch for controlling said circuit, a hinged armature, a fuel valve actuating means provided with a stop adapted to be engaged by the armature when the generator circuit is closed, a battery circuit including the magnet, a switch controlling the battery circuit, an oscillatable lever for closing the second switch, means projecting from the armature to engage a free end of the lever to close the switch, whereby the magnet will be energized by the battery circuit and the armature will be moved into engagement with the core of the magnet, said armature at this time operating the fuel valve actuating means and fully opening said fuel valve, the means projecting from the armature moving beyond the free end of the lever and releasing said lever, and resilient means for returning the lever to normal position and opening the second switch, the generator circuit at this time retaining the armature and likewise the fuel valve in their limits of movement, means engageable with the lever and cooperating with the resilient means for retaining the lever in a predetermined position when the second switch is open.

8. A remote control for internal combustion engines including a fuel valve, a battery and a generator comprising a magnet in circuit with the generator, a remotely located switch for controlling said circuit, a hinged armature, a fuel valve actuating means provided with a stop adapted to be engaged by the armature when the generator circuit is closed, a battery circuit including the magnet, a switch controlling the battery circuit, an oscillatable lever for closing the second switch, means projecting from the armature to engage a projecting from the armature moving beyond the free end of the lever and releasing said lever, said resilient means for returning the lever to normal 10 position and opening the second switch, the generator circuit at this time retaining the armature and likewise the fuel valve in their limits of movement, adjustable means engageable with the opposite end of the lever and with the resilient means for retaining the lever in an inoperable position when the second mentioned switch is opened.

BASIL M. BRADSHAW. JAMES M. ROWLAND. 

